5 – FILETTO (ENG)

The origins of Filetto date back to the need for defense against the Lombards, who threatened the Lunigiana region between the 6th and 7th centuries. The name Filetto, like that of Filattiera, derives from the Greek word “filakterion” (fortified place).

The village still retains its original layout, now known as Upper Square, which has a quadrilateral shape and was once protected by four cylindrical towers, one of which remains well-preserved. Access to the village is through two monumental gates, including the Southern Door, built in the 16th century and refurbished in the 1700s with a diamond-rusticated decoration.

Overlooking the square in front of the Church dedicated to Saints Philip and James stands the Ariberti Marquises Palace, a 17th-century building connected to both the village and the church via two elegant aerial walkways. On the opposite side of the square lies the Convent of the Hospitaller friars, dating back to the 17th century, featuring a large inner cloister that has been partially destroyed and altered over time.

Not far from the village, the Oratory of San Genesio, built in the 16th century, is located in the mysterious Filetto Forest, an area that, even in prehistoric times, was a site of festivals and tribal gatherings, as evidenced by the numerous statue stelae discovered there. The forest is also believed to have inspired Dante Alighieri during his stay in Lunigiana, particularly in his depiction of the dark forest in his renowned Divine Comedy.

Each year, during August, the village comes alive with various events. Among the most significant is the historic Saint Genesio Fair, which began as a livestock fair in the late 19th century and has since evolved into an unmissable event combining gastronomy and commerce. This festival attracts producers and vendors from all over Italy and features the enchanting medieval market, transforming the entire village into a living stage, populated by jesters, acrobats, knights, and other iconic medieval figures.